How do I go about getting bi laws

I certainly did not mean to imply that your bylaws were a minor technicality. However, the problem here is not your bylaws; it's the fact that you have a Board that discussed a motion, and then passed it without being properly informed. The fact that you are willing to reverse a properly discussed and passed motion solely on the basis of the fact that it was not in writing is, at best, bureaucratic.

The fact of the matter is not that you are reversing it because it was not in writing; let's face it, that would have been something very easy to solve, either that night or retroactively. It's being reversed because of "buyer's remorse"--you have subsequently decided that it's too much money, or it's a waste of money, or something like that.

There is nothing that says all motions brought up need to be passed or failed; you can table them and wait until you get more information or do more research. Boards should not feel compelled to vote on something brought up at the last minute unless they have everything they need to make an informed vote. That is their fiduciary responsibility as a Board member.

And legally, if those people already went to the conference on the basis of that first vote, you would still be on the hook for reimbursing them.

I, too, am upset with referring to your by-laws as a "minor technicality". At the school where I was treasurer, the parents did not want to follow its own by-laws. They made the rules up as they went along. I wrote a blog regarding all the problems and trouble that we were having especially when it came to tossing the by-laws aside. Every organization should have a set of rules in which to keep order among it's members. the parents actually commented on the blog that they thought the by-laws sucked and should be thrown aside. Who needs them, proclaimed one parent. You have to check the by-laws to see if you can go to the bathroom, complained another. But these are parents who want to run things whichever way the wind blows. I highly discourage deviating from your rules. Obviously things can be discussed, but you must NEVER refer to your by-laws as a minor technicality. Some ptos get into some pretty heavy problems and you will definitely have more trouble than you know what to do with if you do not enforce your rules.

I am happy to report that our Executive Committee agreed that we could not honor the request as it was not submitted properly as per our bylaws. We really do not have a large budget - probably raise about $6,000 per year. Thanks to each of you who responded, I will definitely be back again!!

Glad tohear we are not the only PTO with these kinds of problems Do your By Laws affress how things are untroduced i.e. can the President make a request? Also do your By Laws state that all activities and funds are to be for the exclusive benefit of the school or its' students? Your By Laws are NOT a MINOR technicality (one of the answers refered to them that way!) They are the rules by which your organization is run As Treasurer if you are not comfortable writing a check for something then you need to speak up! Call for a Board meeting and discuss it Put it in writing! Nothing is carved in stone We had a similar problem earlier this year Some things are not worth Board Members doing battle with each other over but that is why you have a Parliamentarian What does she say? Good Luck I'd be interested in the outcome

what is the conference? Hate to saqy this, but it sounds like your PTO got used. Not sure what your annual budget is, but to spend $700 of it on a hotel room for THREE DAYS and that high of a registration for 2 people, is a lot. Our Teacher appreciation budget for 90 people is only $1200.


I know if I were a parent at your school, and had raised funds toward school programs, and then found out 2 parents used $700, i would be MAD!!

I would call your Board, and the former Pres to a special meeting, and in person, in front of the rest of your Board, show her that, by mistake, the BY LAW that SHE wrote, was no followed, and her request needs to be brought to the next meeting , in writing.